Gerrit Cole sent a strong message to Mariners manager Scott Servais, wagging his finger 15 times and delivering a pitch to José Caballero that soared high over the backstop. Cole’s intentions were crystal clear: Don’t mess with me.
Reflecting on his performance, the New York Yankees ace dryly remarked, “Sometimes a high fastball can be a really effective pitch. You have to change the batter’s eye level.” His words followed a much-needed 3-1 victory over Seattle on Tuesday night, ending a four-game losing streak.
With the support of Anthony Rizzo’s RBI double in the first inning and Billy McKinney’s two-run homer in the second, New York extended its perfect record to 7-0 whenever Cole takes the mound after a Yankees loss. In such games, Cole boasts an impressive 4-0 record with a stellar 1.87 ERA.
Cole’s 0-2 pitch to Caballero served as an unmistakable statement, akin to an emphatic all-caps tweet.
“I believe that got their attention,” commented Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
During his first two at-bats, Caballero repeatedly stepped out of the batter’s box, stalling until the pitch clock dwindled down to the mandatory 8-second mark. In the seventh inning, with two outs, Caballero took a called strike, then once again walked to the edge of the circle. After fouling off the subsequent pitch, he repeated his actions before ultimately calling his one allowed timeout.
In response, Cole unleashed a blazing 97 mph fastball that soared 10-15 feet above the batter’s head.
Caballero, unperturbed by the high heat, calmly remarked, “He didn’t appreciate my management of the pitch clock, but he just got fired up, so that’s a positive thing. The rules apply to all of us, and I made sure to be prepared within the 8-second limit.”
With a full count, Caballero swung through a fastball, and as he retreated from the batter’s box, Cole locked eyes with him, lingering on the mound. In a gesture directed at the Mariners’ dugout, Cole defiantly wagged his right index finger repeatedly.
“Their manager had some choice words for me as I left the field, accompanied by finger-wagging,” Cole explained.
Plate umpire Dan Bellino approached the New York dugout and engaged in a spirited conversation with Boone.
“I don’t recall the specifics because there was clearly a lot of yelling and back-and-forth between the dugouts,” Boone recollected. “I was thinking, ‘Why are they yelling at us?’ It felt like they initiated the shouting match right from the start.”
Following the game, Servais concluded his postgame interview before Cole had a chance to speak.
“Cabby is a player who approaches the game with integrity,” Servais remarked. “He adheres to the rules, gets in there, and competes. While some may have disagreed with his actions, Cabby has consistently played the game this way throughout his time in the major leagues. He’s not one to alter his style.”
Cole, who improved his record to 8-1, delivered an impressive performance, surrendering only one run and four hits over 7 1/3 innings. He struck out eight batters, issued a single walk, and allowed an RBI double to Jarred Kelenic that found the left-field wall in the sixth inning. When Cole was replaced by Clay Holmes, the crowd of 43,130 gave him a standing ovation. As he made his way to the dugout, Cole acknowledged the applause by raising his right index finger and thumb, tipping his cap to the appreciative fans.
Holmes continued the Yankees’ strong pitching performance by recording five consecutive outs, securing his ninth save in 11 opportunities. The game concluded swiftly, lasting just 2 hours and 9 minutes. However, the lasting memory of the game was the intense confrontation between Cole and Caballero.
Boone summed it up by saying, “It’s the new age, the pitch-clock age.”
On the offensive side, the Yankees’ struggles persisted. Rizzo managed to drive in a run with an RBI double off George Kirby, although the ball slipped out of Teoscar Hernández’s glove as he appeared uncertain of his proximity to the right-center wall. Adding to the offensive spark, McKinney blasted a 432-foot home run. These hits provided a much-needed boost to a Yankees lineup that has struggled in June, currently sporting the lowest batting average in the major leagues at .196.
In the game, Rizzo broke out of a slump, going 3 for 4 at the plate. This marked a significant improvement from his previous 4-for-48 (.083) stretch that began after he injured his neck in a collision with Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres on May 28. On the other hand, Giancarlo Stanton struggled, going 0 for 4 with two strikeouts, bringing his post-hamstring injury batting average to .111 (5 for 45) with 17 strikeouts. Similarly, Josh Donaldson went 0 for 3, lowering his average to .150 (6 for 40) since returning from his own hamstring strain.
Yankees center fielder Harrison Bader made a successful return to the lineup after recovering from a strained hamstring. In his first game since May 29, he went 1 for 3 at the plate and also stole a base.
George Kirby, a native of suburban Rye and a Yankees fan growing up, had a significant support system in attendance for his start. However, he gave up eight hits in seven innings with four strikeouts. Notably, he maintained his exceptional control by issuing no walks, which has been a consistent feature of his starts. He currently leads qualified pitchers with a remarkable 0.62 walks per nine innings. The next closest pitcher in that category is Kansas City’s Zack Greinke at 1.17.
In terms of injuries, Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford departed the game after 2 1/2 innings due to a right shoulder bruise sustained during a stolen base by Bader in the second inning. Crawford is scheduled for an MRI on Wednesday.
On the Yankees’ side, left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodón, who has been dealing with a strained left forearm and a sore back, made a positive step towards recovery. He pitched one run over three innings for Double-A Somerset against New Hampshire, marking his first game since a brief spring training outing for the Yankees against Atlanta on March 5. Rodón recorded five strikeouts, one walk, and allowed one hit, throwing 27 of 42 pitches for strikes.
In the upcoming games, the Mariners will send right-hander Luis Castillo (4-5, 2.73 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday night, aiming to break his three-game losing streak. For the Yankees, right-hander Jhony Brito (3-3, 5.58 ERA) will be recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make his first major league start since May 20.